MidSouth Gravel 2024 Recap

Better late than never for an @midsouthgravel recap post, right?

Photo by Gretchen Powers

Going into the weekend, I was determined to do the 100 mile distance. I've been riding a lot more this year and wanted to beat my time from last year, plus I loved the B-road section and couldn't wait to do it again.

As event day approached, however, I got realistic with myself and decided to do the 58 mile.

A couple of factors played into this: I've been struggling with energy management thanks to some new psychiatric medications, I had a very full schedule of events at MidSouth prior to the ride itself (including giving the keynote at the rider's meeting), and @allbodiesonbikes was throwing the DFL Finish Line party, and I kind of needed to be there for it.

Riding the 58 mile was definitely the right choice - and led to an incredibly fun day on the bike, complete with two trips down the @ombraz slip & slide, a picnic at mile 40, and zero mechanicals! I was clearly on the party pace train, enjoying the absolutely perfect weather and companionship on course.

I averaged 10.1 mph for the ride, which is pretty typical for me, hitting a max speed of 31.6 mph. While my ride took 8 1/2 hours, only 5:48 of that was moving time. I never felt like I was wasting time with my stops, however, soaking in all the good vibes at the aid stations, selfies with new friends, and a well-deserved picnic/stretch break.

Event weekends are a marathon for me, with the hardest work coming in the days leading up to the ride. The actual ride for me is my time - to relax, to be in my own head, and to reflect on how far we've come as an organization. I cherish those hours on the course, a chance to test my mental and physical strength, and honestly, to recharge for all the work that is still to be done.

I am so grateful for the @allbodiesonbikes family who came out to MidSouth and were instrumental in running the expo booth and the amazing vibes at the DFL party. Thank you to @unlearnpavement for trusting me to give the keynote speech at the Rider Meeting. Thank you to @ridewithgps for partnering on the DFL party and sharing a booth all weekend.

And thank you to all my partners and sponsors who continue to support me in this work of building an inclusive cycling community:

@ridecannondale for the Topstone bike that has carried me across thousands of gravel miles

@rideshimano for robust components

@lazersportna for keeping my brain safe

@shredly for the cutest apparel around

@ridewithgps for navigation and stoke

@twistedspokecbd for the best chamois cream and energy chews

and so many more brands that support my work!

Rescuing Bunny: A Journey of Healing, Hope, and Home

Occasionally I’ll check the foster role at Best Friend’s NWA, mainly to see if there are any senior dogs needing a temporary home. After bringing Daisy Mae and Lacey into my life three years ago, there’s a very soft spot in my heart for older dogs.

Most of the time I don’t see any older dogs, instead it’s mainly puppies needing homes. And don’t get me wrong, puppies are cute. However, I didn’t have kids for a reason. I’m not patient and I most definitely don’t like to clean up pee and poop. (This was confirmed with our emergency foster, Button, who was with us during the extreme cold snap. Cute as a button, he was also a lot of work.)

I did notice one dog, a three year old, who had a note that caught my interest. “Bunny recently gave birth and needs a calm place to recover.” I thought, “Hey, that sounds like our house,” and moved on with my day. I was packing to go to Santa Fe, New Mexico for a content making trip for Osprey Packs and definitely wasn’t planning on fostering a dog anytime soon.

Fast forward five days, I’m sitting in the high desert sun in Santa Fe, New Mexico passing the time before my flight, aimlessly scrolling instagram. A story from Best Friends NWA caught my eye - a cute black dog with the kindest eyes I’d ever seen named Bunny was in need of a foster home.

Bunny still needed a home.

I texted my contact and told her I was interested in meeting Bunny, but that we’d need to ensure her and Daisy Mae got along.  So the next day, Daisy Mae and Bunny were introduced in the play yard at Best Friends gorgeous new Bentonville facility. After some initial sniffs, the dogs were getting along fine, although admittedly, they were (and still are) largely ambivalent of each other.

Bunny came home with us that day and I was blown away by how skittish this poor girl was. She had clearly been through something and was fearful of humans, cars, loud noises - basically her own shadow.

We started to built trust with each other and slowly, she warmed up to me. By the end of the first night, she allowed me to pet her and even ventured onto the couch to sit next to me.

I will never forget the butt wags on her first morning with us.  She was so excited to see me and wanted all the pets. It felt like the biggest affirmation that this was a good thing, and she was not afraid to show it.

By night two, she was full on cuddling with me and it was then that I realized, Bunny was meant to be with us.

For the last three weeks, Bunny has had pretty extensive medical procedures every Friday requiring a full-day stay at the clinic. She had 10 teeth extracted, was spayed, and received her first heartworm treatment. Incredibly, all of this care has been provided at Best Friends NWA at zero cost.

Each time I went to pick her up from the vet after an initial hesitation, the butt wag was back. And I’m not going to lie - it felt good to bring her home too.

So it’s not surprising that on Friday, after yet another all-day medical treatment, we made it official. Bunny is now officially a Blonsky.

As part of her adoption, I got access to all of her medical records and spent a bit of time looking through them tonight. And what I found was horrifying.

On her initial intake on February 7th, Bunny was noted as emaciated, weighing only 50 pounds. She had over 100 ticks, a smashed left jaw including damaged teeth, and she tested positive for both heartworms and ehrlichia, a tick-borne disease. I also learned that Bunny had ten puppies, eight of whom died shortly after being born. Her two remaining pups are nearly ready for their own adoptions, which is very exciting.

Reading that, it all made sense why Bunny is the way she is. She’s had to fight to survive and nothing has come easy.

I feel so lucky to have her in my life. We’re adjusting to being a family of three and I even caught Daisy Mae and Bunny snuggling together the other day.

We’ve still got a bumpy road ahead of us, as she finishes her heartworm treatment and together we learn some obedience skills. I’m hopeful that we’ve got a bright future ahead of us and can’t wait to see where we end up.

RAGBRAI - Five Tips for First Timers

The post below contains affiliate links. If you purchase an item using these links, I receive a small commission, with no extra work on your part.

This past July I participated in my first RAGBRAI ride, and wow, I thought I knew what to expect, but boy was I in for a surprise. RAGBRAI, for the uninitiated, is the Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa.

In their own words, RAGBRAI “is more than just a bike ride, it is an epic eight-day rolling festival of bicycles, music, food, camaraderie, and community. It is the oldest, largest, and longest multi-day bicycle touring event in the world.”

I was lucky enough to attend RAGBRAI with Shimano, who I’ve formed a close relationship since their initial support of All Bodies on Bikes the film. Our rag-tag crew included brand managers, a vice president, and an executive from Japan, along with a number of regional sales representatives. I might catch some flak for this, but going with Shimano meant sleeping in hotels, air conditioning each night, and a respite from the crowds, which was absolutely essential for me.

Part of the Shimano crew I got to do RAGBRAI with, including Meredith Miller and Nick Legan, supporters of All Bodies on Bikes since the inception.

I will fully admit to not knowing what to expect from RAGBRAI, so I’ve put together a list of five tips for folks considering their first RAGBRAI. I hope you find it helpful, fun and insightful, and maybe it’ll just entice you to sign up for next year!

1. Be ready for lines.

   With crowds ranging from 30,000-80,000 each day, lines nearly everywhere are a given. Most days, I chose where to eat lunch based on who had the shortest line. And it worked - everything I ate was absolutely delicious.

   Hot tip: starting your ride super early in the morning will not only help you beat the heat, but also some of the bigger crowds.

2. Get ready to get wet

   Iowa in July is HOT and HUMID. Thankfully, there is no shortage of ways to cool off during the ride, from neighbors opening their backyard pool to riders for a dip (typically donation based) to slip and slides in a field.

   Hot tip: I highly recommend riding in shoes that you don’t mind getting wet, such as the Shimano SPD sandal. Bonus, you’ll get some really sweet tan lines.

3. Dial in your bike fit and comfort before the ride.

   This one should be obvious, but RAGBRAI is full of long days. In 2023, the shortest day was 50 miles with every day clocking over 1000 feet of climbing.

   Hot tip: Get a bike fit early in the season to give your body plenty of time to get used to any changes. Also, bike fits are sometimes covered by insurance!

4. Cash is Queen

   I was genuinely surprised by how quickly I went through cash while riding RAGBRAI. Cash is preferred by nearly all vendors for the quickness and ease of the transaction, and with the volumes of people they are serving, the faster the better. I would recommend $30-50 per day, depending on your eating preferences and how gullible you are to cute kids on the side of the road shilling pickles.

   Hot Tip: If you drink alcohol. If you drink, I recommend bringing a whole lot more cash for the Iowa Craft Beer Tent that sets up along the route each day.

5. Sunscreen sunscreen sunscreen

   We started riding before the sunrise most days in an attempt to both beat the heat and the crowds. But once the sun comes up, there is no hiding from it. I recommend anything you can do to protect yourself from the sun - long sleeves, mineral sunscreen, and a nerdy (but actually cool on RAGBRAI) helmet visor.

   Hot Tip: If you forget your helmet visor, you can grab one at the big bike Expo the day before RAGBRAI, but be ready to pay up. I saw prices ranging from $35 to $75!

In Closing

Registration for RAGBRAI LI is now open, with the route announcement happening in late January. I had an absolute blast at RAGBRAI 2023 and definitely have it on my calendar for 2024!